30 Days of Thanks

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You know how every November your facebook feed suddenly fills up with what each of your friends is thankful for? Every.Single.Day for 30 days straight? I'm all for being thankful and expressing that thanks, but gratitude for Pumpkin Spice Lattes gets old really quick, ya know?

So, instead of annoying my friends with one thankful status at a time, I've decided to put all of you out of your misery with the things that I'm thankful for this November as well as every other month of the year.

I am thankful for

My Children. These little miracles. These precious little beings that teach me so much every single day. They can build me up and tear me down all in the same second. They drive me insane and make my heart swell with love and joy. My children have changed me, for the better, most days. I can not imagine my life without them and I will always stand up and do what is right for them.

Love. Love, what a fragile thing love is. I've experienced what I thought was love, pain from being in love, and the sheer joy of being loved. Love will stretch your limits and test you and will pick you up when you've hit bottom. Real love. Love is patient, love is kind. I'm thankful for the lessons love has taught me and continues to teach me. I'm thankful to know what real love is and to live it every day.

My Parents. Sometimes, they drive me crazy, frustrate me, irritate me. Much like I do to them, I'm sure. I love my parents and I'm thankful for the lessons they've taught me - even the ones they didn't know they were teaching me. My parents have shown me how to (and not how to) parent, love, stand up for myself, and make good decisions.

New and Old Friends. Old friends because they know me and new ones because they don't. Old friends because we can reminisce about our memories and new friends with which I can create new memories.

New Beginnings and Second Chances. Oh, how thankful I am for new beginnings and second chances! If it weren't for those two things, I'd never be where I am today. I would never be able to right my wrongs, or try again to get it right. I wouldn't be able to finish what I started or start something new altogether. I wouldn't be able to chase my dreams.

My Job. I am blessed to work where I do. I genuinely enjoy my work and my coworkers. My days are long and I miss being home with my kids terribly, but I am happy to get up and go to work in the mornings.

Forgiveness in Myself and In Others. I am thankful for the ability to forgive others and for the ability of others to forgive me.

Hope. There are many things in life that I still hope to do and experience and I'm thankful that I will most likely achieve those things.

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I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving friends. Enjoy it with those you love and spend time creating beautiful memories together! 

On This Veteran's Day

Most Veteran's do not like to be regarded to as heroes. In my opinion, a hero is someone that you can look up to, admire, and respect. To me, a veteran almost always fits that description.

Growing up, I didn't really know what it meant to be a veteran - to have served our country. I didn't "get it." I knew that my uncle and some of his friends were in the Navy, stationed in Virginia. I knew I only got to see him when he came home from the "big ship." I knew that my Papaw was in the Army, but only recently did I find out that he was a Sargeant 1st Class and served his country for 21 years. Neither of them ever really spoke about their service to our country; I just knew that I loved and admired both of these men that were important to me for many reasons, including their time in the military. 

As I got older, I began to have a wider perspective of the military. I have had many friends who have served and here and there I learned bits and pieces. I thought I understood what it must be like to serve and to have that kind of bond, even with perfect strangers. I still wished my veteran friends a "Happy" Veteran's Day. 

My view has changed yet again. I've chosen to spend my life with a veteran and while I will never fully "get it," there are a few things that I now know for sure. I know that Veteran's Day is not a happy day; it's a day to remember those veterans who didn't make it home and to thank the ones who did. I learned that I will never really understand why the men and women who choose to serve our country do what they do for so many who are unwilling to do the same. I will never understand the bond that they have with one another. I will never understand why the majority of veterans would drop everything and do it all over again if they could. 

My heart breaks, yet swells with pride every time I remind myself of this. I didn't choose to serve this country the way so many have. I have however, always held a deep appreciation for those who did choose that path. I am thankful for the sacrifice. I am grateful. For you, you, and you.

Thank You.

Remember today, the fallen heroes who didn't make it back home. Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for me and for you. Remember their families and friends. Say a prayer for the veterans who we are lucky to still have with us today. Pray for them to find peace and comfort. Remember that today is not a "happy" holiday, but a day of remembrance and thanks. 

A Lighter Pumpkin Latte Courtesy of Sweet’N Low®

Temperatures at night are dropping lower, the air is feeling crisper, and folks are getting antsy for the sights, sounds, and tastes of Fall!

My absolute favorite season is Fall. I look forward to crisp, warm days, pumpkins all over the place, the excitement of Halloween, and a couple of my favorite Fall-themed beverages. It’s always fun to be a little indulgent, but if I were to drink my favorite pumpkin latte all season-long my diet plan would be way off track!

Luckily, Sweet’N Low® has got me covered! If you enjoy the sweet taste of lattes but not the calories that accompany them, then read on for a great Lighter Pumpkin Latte recipe from Sweet‘N Low®!

I’m going to share a multiple-serving recipe because even if you aren’t sharing with friends, you will probably find yourself wanting more than one latte! At only 93 calories per serving, enjoy the taste of Fall without the caloric guilt!

Lighter Pumpkin Latte Recipe
93 Calories per serving

(serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

• 12 packets Sweet‘N Low® zero calorie sweetener
• 1 cup (8 ounces) espresso coffee (or bold coffee)
• ¾ cup canned pumpkin (not the pie filling)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 3 cups skim milk (or plain unsweetened almond or soy milk)
• Nutmeg, for garnish (optional)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a heatproof container, whirl the Sweet‘N Low®, espresso, pumpkin, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice using a milk frother or fork.  Pour equal amounts into 4 mugs.
2. In a separate container, heat the milk in the microwave. Pour equal amounts of hot milk to each mug and whirl until the latte is topped with foam.
3. Garnish with a pinch of nutmeg. Serve immediately.

Enjoy your Lighter Pumpkin Latte from Sweet‘N Low®!

This blog post is sponsored by Sweet’N Low®.

One Year Later

I was a nervous wreck. The moment I'd dreamt about, wished for, played over in my mind for the last 7 years was finally about to happen. I was nauseous and my stomach was in knots. My heart was pounding and I couldn't stop smiling. 

Does my hair look okay? What should I wear? Where is that perfume?? Crap! I'm going to be late!!! I run out the door in a rush telling myself to stay calm, everything is going to be fine. 

Flying down the highway, I didn't know which was moving faster - my car or my pulse. I tried to distract myself with music on the radio, but it just wasn't working. It felt like the longest 20 minutes of my life. As nervous as I was, I just couldn't get there fast enough. 

Finally, I reach the parking lot and I turn towards the back where I knew he'd be waiting. I literally can not breath; so many emotions happening at one time and I"m on overload. But then - I saw his face - his smile - the one I hadn't seen in such a long time. My nerves were gone, my fears eased and a calm washed over me. It felt like it took me forever to get out of the car, but I know it was only a matter of seconds before I got out and ran into his arms. 

With his arms wrapped around me tight, my eyes began to well up with tears. It had been 7 years since I'd laid eyes on him or felt his touch, but in an instant I knew that everything I'd ever felt for him was still there - 10 fold. I felt like I was home.  

I finally pulled my head away from his chest to look up at him; I smiled and said "hi," and then he did the same. Those dimples - good, Lord I was weak in the knees! If it hadn't felt like 100* out that day we probably would have stayed just like that for hours. Instead, we decided to go in and eat. Neither of us were hungry and we mostly held hands across the table while smiling at each other like a couple of goof balls. It was indescribable being in the presence of my best friend and true love again. 

One Year Ago

If you had told me last July that we would be where we are today, I would have laughed you off of my front porch and then gone inside and cried because everything I have now is all I've ever wanted. One year later, Chris and I are happier than we've ever been. Our love and passion for each other is more intense than it's ever been. Being around him still makes my heart race, and his smile still makes me weak in the knees. We've made plans - big plans - and we've made steps to set them in motion. It's an amazing feeling to be living life with the one person who was made for me.

Being away from my soul mate for 7 years taught me a lot of lessons, but one sticks out more than others. At the end of the day, we're together and that is all that matters. Life isn't perfect and sometimes it even sucks, but if you have the one you love by your side - you'll make it - together. 

Christopher - I love you more than words could ever explain. After all we've been through together - both good and bad - I"m so very grateful to have you by my side every single day. I'm thankful for your love and support in everything I do. I'm appreciative of you as my partner in this life and as the father of our children. I'm lucky to have you to turn to when I need a shoulder to cry on or a good laugh. I'm blessed in knowing that you love me, all of me, and only me. I'm honored that you have chosen me. 

I'm looking forward to:

• many more mornings of making your coffee and packing your lunch (little love notes included). 
• washing many more loads of your laundry and making your favorite meals.
• many more confusing conversations about cars and their parts (and finally catching on!)
• many more "honey, I made it" text messages and many more "I love you's."
• random and last minute road trips.
• late night giggles instead of falling asleep.
• mid week lunch dates.
• not ever being able to surprise you, because you know me so well.
• all the plans we've made and the dreams we've dreamt - coming true! 

I'm looking forward to many more years with you.

I love you babe! Happy Anniversary! 

Pop The Perfect Bag of Popcorn with Pop Secret's Perfect Pop App! #PerfectPop #GoodbyeBurnedPopCorn

Thank you Pop Secret for sponsoring this post. 

Movie nights occur regularly in our home and rarely do we view a flick without nibbling on our favorite snack, popcorn! However, nothing can ruin family movie night like burning the last bag of popcorn; unfortunately for my clan - I'm a natural at gourmet burned popcorn. Ooops.

Luckily for me, and everyone else in our house, Pop Secret has developed the Perfect Pop App (available for iPhone 5+ on iOS7+) so that I (and all of you!) can stop worrying about burning the popcorn and just enjoy the movie! 

The Perfect Pop App works with a variety of Pop Secret flavors:

• Homestyle
• Butter
• Light Butter
• 94% Fat Free Butter
• Movie Theater Butter
• Extra Butter

Can you guess which flavor I chose? Yup, movie theater butter!

The Perfect Pop app is super easy to use; download the app to your iPhone for free from the app store to get started. 

1) Put a bag of Pop Secret in the microwave and enter suggested cooking time from the packaging. 

2) Turn up the volume on your iPhone. Point the phone's speaker towards the microwave and keep within 3 feet.

3) Start the microwave, and then start the app. 

No more relying on the popcorn button or guessing how many seconds in between pops. Pop Secret is serious about perfect popcorn, so the less you have to worry about, the more time you can spend enjoying movie night with your friends & family. Perfect Pop listens to the pops, waiting for the precise moment to let you know when your popcorn is perfect. 

Movie night went off without a hitch thanks to the Pop Secret Perfect Pop App; We enjoyed family movie night with perfectly popped and delicious popcorn. #GoodbyeBurnedPopcorn ! 

What's your favorite flavor of Pop Secret?

My Favorite Summer Scents

I love perfume; I have currently have 7 bottles on my bathroom counter and there are a few more that I'm itching to purchase. What can I say? I like to smell good! 

I enjoy having a variety of scents to choose from so that I can switch it up every now and then. My perfume preferences tend to change a little bit with the seasons. During the summer, I definitely prefer something that is light, fresh, and airy. 

Today I'm sharing my top 5 picks for Summer Scents. 

Coach Poppy is, hands down, my absolute favorite any time of the year, but especially during the Summer. This scent lifts my spirits and makes me feel sexy, always! It doesn't hurt that this is Chris' favorite scent on me and it drives him crazy when I wear it!

DKNY Be Delicious is a scent that has been around for quite awhile now; I've loved it from the very first time I saw the bottle. I love how crisp the citrus is on this one. It just feels fresh!

Dolce & Gabbana light blue is one that I've been wearing since high school! It's intensely feminine but with a crisp and fresh twist. It's hard to describe, but I love it! 

I discovered Victoria's Secret Bombshell Summer  a few summers back and wow - it makes me feel like I'm lying on the beach, tan skin glistening in the sun with an umbrella in my drink. Who doesn't want that?

Last but not least, I love Escada's Pacific Paradise! This is a fragrance that has been around for what seems like forever but also one that I can wear every day. It's citrus-y and sweet and down right delicious!

I'd love to know - what is your favorite scent?

Life Lately

Man Alive! Life has been so busy lately; it seems like summer is flying by (actually, this whole year has flown by) and I've been caught up in a million and one things. So today I'm gonna get y'all caught up on our life lately. 

At the end of May, Chris and I traveled to Baton Rouge to see the King of country music, George Strait, perform the second to last show of his final tour, ever. We had a fantastic time but we've both agreed that we will probably never go out of state for a concert again. We barely made it to the stadium in time because we sat in traffic for like, 4 hours. It was awful. However, it was totally worth it! George was amazing and I'm so grateful that we had the opportunity to see him on his last tour. 

Our baby girl graduated from Kindergarten! When we sat down and started comparing her pictures from her first day of school to her last day of school, we were blown away. We realized how much she had changed and how grown up she looks. Father Time, please slow down!

Chris is still going to school and he started a new job several weeks ago. He landed a position at a great shop and is gaining valuable experience as an entry level tech. The best part? He actually loves his work there. The second best part? He is home at a reasonable time every night and he no longer works weekends! He also started the motor swap on his Mustang. My garage has officially been taken over by car parts (but I don't mind!).

I've been extra busy lately too; I've put my photography business on the back burner a little bit - mostly because I like to shoot outside and right now - it's hot! No one wants to be a hot sweaty mess in pictures and I'm assuming no one wants a hot sweaty  mess of a photographer either. 

Recently, I took a position as an assistant editor for a local online publication. It's been a great experience so far and I love that I'm able to use my knowledge of blogging and social media marketing at a higher level. 

I'm also looking for a full time, outside of the home, job. I just can't seem to sit still! I've been on 5+ interviews in the last two weeks and I"ve got two more lined up this week. I'm kind of holding out for the "perfect" job and just seeing what is out there right now. Wish me luck on my search!

I'm back on my weight loss bandwagon again (imagine that!) I've done well not to gain any weight but I kind of hit a plateau and stopped trying to lose. I'm planning ahead for an elective surgery in the not too distant future though and I'd like to be in the best shape possible going into the procedure (more on that at a later time). 

Father's Day was amazing! The kids and I worked hard on our gifts to Chris; we were so excited that we ended up giving them to him a day early! 

The kids made Dad this awesome candy card and you can see it all over his face - he loved it! They were so proud of the work they did and they felt great knowing that he was so excited about his gift!

My surprise for Chris really floored him; I knew he was going to love my gift for him but I didn't expect the reaction I got. It was obvious to him that my gift meant a lot and that it truly made his day, which was exactly what I was going for. He is an amazing Dad and he deserved the best Father's Day ever. I feel confident that the kiddos and I definitely accomplished that with Father's Day at the Houston Astros game! 

Lately the kids have been hounding me to let them do chores around the house. Who am I to deny a child the privilege of housework? So, we made out a chore chart and put them to work. They are loving every minute of it and I'm enjoying it while it lasts. Cause we all know it won't last!

So that's the gist of it, we've just been busy, living life and enjoying our summer! 

What have y'all been up to?

 

5 Home Remedies for Curing A Sun Burn

This week I've shown you how to plan a toobin' trip, a trip to the water park, save big money while doing it, find the perfect bikini, and now I'm going to share some home remedies on how to cure a sun burn. 

The absolute best cure for a sun burn is to not get one in the first place - protect your skin and wear sunscreen! However, if you find yourself in a painful spot, these tips will get you fixed up in no time. 

How do you protect your skin from the sun?

5 Tips For Saving Big At The Water Park

Earlier this week I shared tips with you on how to survive the water park and today I want to tell you how to save BIG money on your trip! 

My post for saving big at the water park, first published last summer, is a great resource for insider tips on how to save for your next water park adventure. Check it out and let me know if you have any other great tips to add!

How does your family save when going to the water park?

Finding The Perfect Swimsuit: Bikinis For Curvy Women

I published a post last summer, Five Swimsuits For The Curvy Woman, but a new summer is here and it's time to find that new perfect suit. If you'd like to check out last year's post, I think you might still find it helpful. 

This year finding a swimsuit wasn't as difficult for me. Since last summer, I've shed 25 pounds and I'm feeling more confident than ever. I still have a long way to go though and finding the perfect swimsuit still takes a bit of effort! This summer I actually bought a bikini: a real honest to goodness bikini! 

Here are my top 5 bikinis for the curvy woman! 

1. Curvy Kate: Shockwave Halter: I love the bright colors and fun pattern of this suit. The wide straps on both the top and bottom provide good coverage and are flattering for a curvy figure. The neckline on the top is great but still provides great coverage which is really important! 

2. Ralph Lauren Striped Hardware Bikini: I have a slight obsession with nautical looks right now so my eye was drawn to this suit immediately. The halter top provides great support for those with a larger bust and I like how the bottoms fold over. 

3. Striped Banded Halter & Macrame Hipster Bottoms: This is the bikini that I bought this summer! Again, it's a halter (I have a thing for halters!) and I love the design on both the top and bottom. The T-back is fun and something different which is definitely what I wanted. 

4. Retro Stripe Bustier Bikini: I'm in love with this suit! It has a retro feel which I really like. The coverage of both the top and bottom are great for us curvy gals! 

5. Lucky Brand Suddenly Summer: My best friend tried on this suit and wow! She looked amazing! I love the ruffles on both pieces of the suit; they give it a very feminine look. This suit also comes in pink.

Have you bought a suit yet this summer? Tell me about it! 

Surviving The Water Park in 10 Easy Steps

Summer time is here and if you (or your kids) are lucky you may be headed out to the water park soon! A relaxing day at the park isn't always so, well, relaxing! 

However, this list of 10 tips will help you prepare for a trip to your favorite water park. My biggest tip? Be Prepared! 

What's your favorite water park?

{This month's advertisement}

Texas River Floatin': Tips & Tricks

This week I'm going to be bringing back a few posts from last summer; Summer DIYs, travel tips and tricks, finding the perfect swimsuit and more! We're starting off the week with tips for toobin' Texas rivers. 

Toobin' is a huge thing down here where I live; I'm not sure about other parts of the world but us Texans enjoy lounging in a tube, floating down a river with friends and tossin' back a few cold ones. 

Check out my Texas Toobin' Tips post for tips on toobin' and a couple of great spots to float! 

Do you like to float the river? 

Sweeten Recipes with Sweet'N Low

Summer is just around the corner and with that comes a lot of gatherings with large amounts of cool drinks! We all want to look our best, but often fall to the temptations of scrumptious offerings at the continuous stream of barbecues, picnics and reunions that are common throughout the summer months.

A really unique story began around the Second World War at a family-owned café that served the servicemen and women working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After a series of events, it was in that place in 1957 that America’s favorite little pink packet was born. Sweet’N Low is still owned by the same family after three generations and it continues to employ members of the local community where its roots started. Check out its cool story at SweetNLow.com/brand.

Speaking of family, Sweet’N Low has been a staple in my house for as long as I can remember. I use it because my mother was a sole believer in the sweetener, especially since her mother used it too. She used to tell me as I watched her pour packets into recipes that it’s the perfect ingredient to make all the family’s recipes ‘skinny’ without the guilt.

So, when my family was getting together about a month ago for a barbecue, I knew I had to keep the tradition alive within my family’s recipes. I’ve spent quite a bit of time browsing Sweet’N Low’s website looking for a new twist that will hopefully leave my Sweet’N Low recipe mark in the family later on down the road!

This is the Sweet’N Low drink recipe my family won’t stop talking about after the reunion.

Light and Sassy Party Punch Recipe

Ingredients

·         16 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener

·         1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

·         1 can (6 ounce) unsweetened pineapple juice

·         1 can (8 ounce) pineapple tidbits in 100% juice,    

          undrained

·         2 tablespoons lemon juice

·         1 quart unsweetened cranberry juice, chilled

·         Ice

·         1 liter club soda, chilled

·         8 fresh strawberries

Directions

1. Mix cranberry and lemon juices, pineapple and pineapple juice, sliced        strawberries and Sweet'N Low in 3 quart 

 nonmetal pitcher.

2. Stir in club soda and serve over ice.

3. Garnish each serving with fresh strawberry.

Check out these other skinny recipes on SweetNLow.com  and see how easily you can cut out calories, without sacrificing the sweetness you love!

Sweet’N Low can be found in numerous retailers nationwide, as well as in your local coffee shops and restaurants.

This post is sponsored by Sweet’N Low but all of the opinions are my own. “Sweet’N Low®”, “©2014 Cumberland Packing Corp. All Rights Reserved.”

The King of Country Music

George Strait. No matter what kind of music you prefer, you'd be hard pressed not to know that name. He's a legend and without a doubt the King of Country music. He's also finishing up his very last tour ever - The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. 

I can remember as a kid listening to George non stop when I was with my Grandma; that was her man y'all. She'd tell me that all the time and I'd argue her to the floor. I was going to marry Mr. Strait one day, I was sure of it. When I went to college at Southwest Texas State (Texas State University - San Marcos) I learned that George Strait was also a student there back in the day. I thought was the coolest thing ever. Plus, I was hanging out at the bars that he used to play in - how freaking cool?! Hey, I thought it was cool. 

So, this is his last tour, but luckily he plans to still record new music (Praise the music Gods above!) and even luckier - we're headed to Baton Rouge right now to see one of his last shows. I'm ecstatic. I bought these darn tickets last year! We've been waiting patiently and finally the time has come.

So, to celebrate, Chris and I decided we'd share with y'all our top 10 favorite George Strait songs, in no particular order. If you are a fan of his music, you'll understand how excruciating it was to narrow down his hits to a top ten list! I've linked them all up for your listening pleasure! Enjoy y'all! 

Lacey's List:

• You Look So Good In Love
• Baby Blue
• Baby's Gotten Good at Goodbye
• Love Without End, Amen
• If I know Me
• You Know Me Better Than That
• So Much Like My Dad
• I'd Like To Have That One Back
• Carried Away
• Give It All We've Got Tonight

Chris' List:

• Run
• Ace In The Hole
• The Best Day
• She'll Leave You With A Smile
• Carrying Your Love With Me
• Man In Love With You
• Ocean Front Property
• Cowboys Like Us
• Texas
• Lovebug
• Am I Blue

So tell me, what's your favorite George Strait song?

#DecideToDrive {Alert and Without Distractions}

We're all guilty of it in some way. It's easy to do and sometimes it can happen without even realizing it. Unfortunately it has become the norm or at least it seems that way. Driving distracted. I think we're all guilty of it at some point. Talking on the phone, texting, flipping through the radio stations, eating, putting on make up, screaming at unruly kids (I do not do that, not one bit).

There are so many different things that can easily distract us while driving and it only takes a split second for a distraction to cause a crash. I'm guilty of driving distracted. I have two small kids that are in the vehicle with me 99% of the time and I do my best to limit distractions. I don't text unless my car is at a complete stop and sometimes I feel like even that is a bad idea. I'd by lying if I said I never get honked at when the light turns green and I'm still sitting there! My car is equipped with a blue tooth system so when I get in I always connect my phone. If I get a call while driving I can easily answer it by pushing a button on the steering wheel and I can talk through the speakers in my car. It's a feature that I love and use frequently.

I've noticed an increasing trend: it is typical to pass other drivers on the road and see them looking down at or talking on their phones, applying make up while driving (this one still baffles me!), or eating all while driving. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and The Auto Alliance (and myself!) want to increase awareness about the risks of distracted driving. 

Check out this wreck-less checklist:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), of the nearly 33,000 roadway fatalities in 2012, there were 3,328 fatalities and approximately 421,000 injuries in distracted driving-related crashes. I carry my most precious cargo with me almost all of the time and I do my best to protect them at every turn. However, I cannot control the actions of other drivers on the road. Distracted driving puts the lives of innocent people at risk as well as your own. 

Remember, the most advanced safety feature of any vehicle is the driver. The AAOS and the Auto Alliance urges all drivers to keep their most sophisticated safety features engaged at all times: eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

What do you do to limit distractions while driving?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

5 Beauty Must Haves from Stila

This is not a sponsored post; I just really love these products.

1. Glowing Reviews Gentle Skin Renewal Scrub

2. One Step Correct

3. Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer 

4. One Step Complexion Brush

5. Custom Color Blush in Coral 

I've always been a drug store make up kind of gal; I typically just find something that works for my needs and I run with it. I've never been one to look for the next best thing on the make up aisle (except for when it comes to mascara!) and I never spend a good bit of money on the products that I buy. 

Until recently...

I needed new foundation and one that had great coverage without making my face look like a piece of cake. So I ran into my nearest Ulta to try and find something new. One of the associates at the store offered to help me and she did way more than help me find a new foundation. She showed me all of the above products and let me test them out and I fell in love!

The first thing I tried was the glowing reviews gentle skin renewal scrub and it is amazing! It's an exfoliating scrub that removes all of the dead skin and leaves your face looking bright, fresh and oh so smooth. After exfoliating I used the one step correct and I was really surprised; this little corrector is like a little miracle worker. When I don't feel like putting on a full face of makeup I just apply some of this and my face looks so even and nice. 

Now on to what I actually went into the store for..the foundation! The Stila All Day Foundation & Concealer is exactly what it says it is. The foundation is like a thick liquid and it takes just a small amount to cover your face. It's also a build-able foundation so the more you use the more coverage you can achieve. The finished look is so natural; it's seriously the best foundation I've ever used. It stays all day long without reapplication. My favorite feature is that there is a built in concealer in the lid. It's so handy! I use the one step complexion brush to apply my foundation and concealer; it's really great for blending and makes it so easy. Another budget friendly brush set that I love are those made by eco tools.

Last but not least I really love the Stila custom color blush in coral. I am pretty picky about the blush colors I use and this one just happened to be perfect in my opinion! There are lots of colors to choose from though. 

My makeup routine is still super simple and quick but the result I get now is way beyond what I've gotten from other products. 

What is your favorite beauty product?

Maleficent Activity Sheets! {Printables}

One of the movies on my "must see" list this summer is Disney's Maleficent!

“Maleficent,” the untold story of Disney’s most iconic villain from the classic “Sleeping Beauty,” reveals the events that hardened Maleficent’s heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora, only to later realize that the child may hold the key to peace in the land.

It's likely that you've seen the trailer for this one but just in case you haven't, here it is:

Today I wanted to share some fun activity sheets with you that go along with the movie! There are mazes, puzzles, and coloring sheets. Just follow this link to print them out and enjoy!